Emily Coverstone
As the second semester of the school year begins, many students are beginning to get back into the groove of their academic lives and head back onto campus.
For some they will begin writing paper after paper, others will work on new sketches for their end of the year showcases. Yet, for a group of students found in Neff Hall they have to begin their hunt for patients to get their Dental Hygiene degrees.
From sophomore to senior year, students who are accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program get to learn as to what it exactly is that dental hygienists do in their day-to-day life while at work along with how to do it.
With clinics designed just like what you would typically see at an actual dental office, both friends, family members, and randomly assigned patients can get to see students learn more and more while cleaning their teeth and providing other services such as x-ray and scaling.
Each student in the program has to reach a certain number of patients each semester to move onto the next level and to also graduate. Although the students may have their agendas full at the beginning, not every patient can be reliable on showing up to their appointment, and because of this, that student can begin to fall behind on their requirements.
IUFW Junior, Alana Lester, has dealt with a patient or two canceling last minute, as well as many of her fellow peers who have also experienced the same thing.
“It is a slight setback when it comes to cancellations, as it is very difficult to get someone else to take that spot which in turn makes it difficult to meet requirements necessary to finish the class,” Lester said. “Many of us started this semester off behind due to the lack of patients from cancellations.”
The appointment itself will usually take around 4 hours to complete as students will be taking each step thoroughly and getting the go ahead by the licensed dentists and dental faculty who are supervising the students.
With hours differing each day of the week between the months of January to April, the clinic will be open Monday through Friday.
| Monday | 8:00 a.m. – noon 1:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:00 a.m. – noon 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:00 a.m. – noon 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Not only does the clinic offer teeth cleanings, but for a reduced price, you can get oral exams and cancer screenings, periodontal assessments, local antibacterial medicaments, local anesthesia, oral hygiene instructions, fluoride treatments, sealants, and x-rays.
The Dental Clinic fees range from $20 to $64 depending on age and services. The clinic also accepts dental insurance to those who bring in their card and fill out the information on the paperwork handed out before the appointment.
An appointment is required and there are three reserved parking spots available in the patient-only parking lot (Lot 8) located outside of Neff Hall. Additional parking is available in Lot B and parking garages. Handicap spaces are available adjacent to Neff Hall.
To get a high-quality, low-cost preventative dental service with the IUFW Dental Clinic, call 260-257-6826. For more information about costs, services, or clinic hours go to https://www.iufw.edu/dental-clinic/index.html